REGEXP(3) FreeBSD Library Functions Manual REGEXP(3)
NAMEregcomp, regexec, regsub, regerror -- regular expression handlers
LIBRARY
Compatibility Library (libcompat, -lcompat)
SYNOPSIS#includeregexp*regcomp(constchar*exp);
intregexec(constregexp*prog, constchar*string);
voidregsub(constregexp*prog, constchar*source, char*dest);
DESCRIPTIONThisinterfaceismadeobsoleteby regex(3).
The regcomp(), regexec(), regsub(), and regerror() functions implement
egrep(1)-style regular expressions and supporting facilities.
The regcomp() function compiles a regular expression into a structure of
type regexp, and returns a pointer to it. The space has been allocated
using malloc(3) and may be released by free(3).
The regexec() function matches a NUL-terminated string against the com-
piled regular expression in prog. It returns 1 for success and 0 for
failure, and adjusts the contents of prog's startp and endp (see below)
accordingly.
The members of a regexp structure include at least the following (not
necessarily in order):
char *startp[NSUBEXP];
char *endp[NSUBEXP];
where NSUBEXP is defined (as 10) in the header file. Once a successful
regexec() has been done using the regexp(), each startp- endp pair
describes one substring within the string, with the startp pointing to
the first character of the substring and the endp pointing to the first
character following the substring. The 0th substring is the substring of
string that matched the whole regular expression. The others are those
substrings that matched parenthesized expressions within the regular
expression, with parenthesized expressions numbered in left-to-right
order of their opening parentheses.
The regsub() function copies source to dest, making substitutions accord-
ing to the most recent regexec() performed using prog. Each instance of
`&' in source is replaced by the substring indicated by startp[] and
endp[]. Each instance of `\n', where n is a digit, is replaced by the
substring indicated by startp[n] and endp[n]. To get a literal `&' or
`\n' into dest, prefix it with `\'; to get a literal `\' preceding `&' or
`\n', prefix it with another `\'.
The regerror() function is called whenever an error is detected in
regcomp(), regexec(), or regsub(). The default regerror() writes the
string msg, with a suitable indicator of origin, on the standard error
output and invokes exit(3). The regerror() function can be replaced by
the user if other actions are desirable.
REGULAREXPRESSIONSYNTAX
A regular expression is zero or more branches, separated by `|'. It
matches anything that matches one of the branches.
A branch is zero or more pieces, concatenated. It matches a match for
the first, followed by a match for the second, etc.
A piece is an atom possibly followed by `*', `+', or `?'. An atom fol-
lowed by `*' matches a sequence of 0 or more matches of the atom. An
atom followed by `+' matches a sequence of 1 or more matches of the atom.
An atom followed by `?' matches a match of the atom, or the null string.
An atom is a regular expression in parentheses (matching a match for the
regular expression), a range (see below), `.' (matching any single char-
acter), `^' (matching the null string at the beginning of the input
string), `$' (matching the null string at the end of the input string), a
`\' followed by a single character (matching that character), or a single
character with no other significance (matching that character).
A range is a sequence of characters enclosed in `[]'. It normally
matches any single character from the sequence. If the sequence begins
with `^', it matches any single character not from the rest of the
sequence. If two characters in the sequence are separated by `-', this
is shorthand for the full list of ASCII characters between them (e.g.
`[0-9]' matches any decimal digit). To include a literal `]' in the
sequence, make it the first character (following a possible `^'). To
include a literal `-', make it the first or last character.
AMBIGUITY
If a regular expression could match two different parts of the input
string, it will match the one which begins earliest. If both begin in
the same place but match different lengths, or match the same length in
different ways, life gets messier, as follows.
In general, the possibilities in a list of branches are considered in
left-to-right order, the possibilities for `*', `+', and `?' are consid-
ered longest-first, nested constructs are considered from the outermost
in, and concatenated constructs are considered leftmost-first. The match
that will be chosen is the one that uses the earliest possibility in the
first choice that has to be made. If there is more than one choice, the
next will be made in the same manner (earliest possibility) subject to
the decision on the first choice. And so forth.
For example, `(ab|a)b*c' could match `abc' in one of two ways. The first
choice is between `ab' and `a'; since `ab' is earlier, and does lead to a
successful overall match, it is chosen. Since the `b' is already spoken
for, the `b*' must match its last possibility--the empty string--since it
must respect the earlier choice.
In the particular case where no `|'s are present and there is only one
`*', `+', or `?', the net effect is that the longest possible match will
be chosen. So `ab*', presented with `xabbbby', will match `abbbb'. Note
that if `ab*', is tried against `xabyabbbz', it will match `ab' just
after `x', due to the begins-earliest rule. (In effect, the decision on
where to start the match is the first choice to be made, hence subsequent
choices must respect it even if this leads them to less-preferred alter-
natives.)
RETURNVALUES
The regcomp() function returns NULL for a failure (regerror() permit-
ting), where failures are syntax errors, exceeding implementation limits,
or applying `+' or `*' to a possibly-null operand.
SEEALSO
ed(1), egrep(1), ex(1), expr(1), fgrep(1), grep(1), regex(3)
HISTORY
Both code and manual page for regcomp(), regexec(), regsub(), and
regerror() were written at the University of Toronto and appeared in
4.3BSD-Tahoe. They are intended to be compatible with the Bell V8
regexp(3), but are not derived from Bell code.
BUGS
Empty branches and empty regular expressions are not portable to V8.
The restriction against applying `*' or `+' to a possibly-null operand is
an artifact of the simplistic implementation.
Does not support egrep(1)'s newline-separated branches; neither does the
V8 regexp(3), though.
Due to emphasis on compactness and simplicity, it is not strikingly fast.
It does give special attention to handling simple cases quickly.
FreeBSD 6.1 June 4, 1993 FreeBSD 6.1